Ahmedin Jemal

Ahmedin Jemal

Senior Scientific Vice President
Surveillance, Prevention, and Health Services Research

At the American Cancer Society, we are steadfast in our mission to eliminate cancer as a major health problem. Central to this mission is our commitment to reducing tobacco use—the leading cause of preventable cancer and death in the United States. Alongside our advocacy affiliate, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, we work at the federal, state, and local levels to advance policies that prevent tobacco initiation, promote cessation, and protect communities from the harms of tobacco products.

While we have made significant strides in reducing smoking prevalence and expanding access to evidence-based cessation resources, we remain deeply concerned about persistent disparities in tobacco use and tobacco-related disease. These disparities are particularly pronounced in parts of southern states, rural areas, among populations with lower socioeconomic status, and within communities historically targeted by the tobacco industry. The US Tobacco Atlas brings these inequities into sharp focus and underscores the urgent need for targeted interventions.

We are also mindful of the evolving tobacco landscape. The rapid proliferation of emerging nicotine products, coupled with aggressive marketing tactics, threatens to undermine decades of progress—especially among youth and young adults. As we embrace innovation in cancer prevention and care, we must ensure that these advances do not widen existing gaps in health outcomes.

The US Tobacco Atlas is a vital tool in this effort. It provides a comprehensive, data-driven foundation for understanding the current state of tobacco use and control in the United States. It equips policymakers, public health professionals, and advocates with the insights needed to drive meaningful change. As such, it serves as an apt and timely companion to the Cancer Atlas, also sponsored by the American Cancer Society. Together, these resources offer a powerful lens through which to understand and address the root causes of cancer and health inequities.

We are optimistic that by working together—across sectors and communities—we can accelerate progress toward a tobacco-free nation where no one dies from tobacco. The US Tobacco Atlas is both a reflection of our progress and a roadmap for the work ahead.